June 2013

June 30, 2013

With temperatures between 100-107 degrees this past week the only thing left to do is stitch.

Next to Blackwork stitches, Eyelets are maybe my next favorite. Jane Zimmerman has a wonderful selection of Eyelet stitches in Volume 2 of Ultimate Encyclopedia of Canvas Embroidery. I have used this Fan Eyelet a couple of times for shirts or aprons.

Use a pearl size 8 in either cotton or silk. Another option is Floche which I love. Floche is a cotton floss that is thicker than regular floss.

If you have a chart that does not have the pathway numbered here are a couple of hints when trying to figure it out yourself.

1) Eyelets are worked from the outside in to a common center hole. If you work from the inside out, you will displace the threads already in the hole.

2) You don't want to run your thread across the the back of the hole. So figure out where you are moving to to start the next eyelet.

3) Use a little bit bigger needle then you normally would so that it opens up your center hole.

If you do not have her books in your stitch library, they are a must. We carry both in the store and are often our go too books when writing guides in the store.

Rumble of thunder outside....mother nature can be such a tease.

This was the sunrise outside my window this morning.

We got a couple of great canvas in this week and I thought I would share my favorite (well at least one of them)

It is a Zecca canvas. I love the vibrant colors. I got it in with the border and without. You can see it and other canvas we got in by visiting the webstore.

June 23, 2013

First let me apologize for not posting last weekend. I took a little break and headed to Florida for a weekend with my dear friend Penny and her family.

Pictures later, but for now I want to get to the stitches I want to share. I am sharing 2 stitches today since I missed last week.

Last year when I stitched the Angels of the Month, I had to come up with 12 borders to put down along the bottom of the canvas. I would look through magazines like the ANG Needlepointers and Needlepoint Now to get ideas of what I wanted to do.

If you do not subscribe to Needlepoint Now or don't belong to ANG, I courage you to do both. If you live in an area that does not have a guild chapter that is O.K., you can join at large and still get the magazine. Both of these publications are very useful for stitch ideas, projects and information about new products.

This morning I am sharing the brders that I used along the bottom of the August and July Angels.

On the Swag border, the box at the end is a compensated stitch.

The summer Market for TNNA is going on this weekend but I just could not make it.Several of the Artists have already updated their websites with new designs. I have given you some links below. If you see anything you like, just give a shout and we can get you a price.

I ordered several canvas from Maggie, Ewe and Eye and Labors of Love yesterday and I am getting ready to email my order for Melissa Shirley now.

June 09, 2013

The first thing I want to share with you this morning is a piece that one of my customers stitched. His name is Henry and he did this for a class project and got an "A". He was a little shy so all we get to see of him are his eyes peaking out over his piece. I think he did a great job. He picked up threads to add ground, shy and a sun.

The stitch for today is an Oblong Cross over 2 Foundation threads. I used a Kreinik 1/16th ribbon and a Trebizond for my doodle example.

This could be used for a belt, a border or even a structured flower bed. You could add a size 14 bead in between the oblong crosses if you want

Sandy Arthur has been here for the last couple of days teaching in the store and we have all learned so much. The students are having so much fun we have already scheduled her for next year.

She will be here January 24-26, 2014 (Friday-Sunday) for "Peacock Pride". I will post details on the website soon.

Donna G. also finished her Oaxaca class piece that she took last year (or was it the year before), time is going by too fast.

Beside having the classes going in the store we have all been busy writing guides. I have been working on Susan Riberts Nutcrackers, Eleanore has been working on a Zecca canvas and Corliss has been worj]king on a 3-day Snowman from Jane Nichols.

Now for a little more class talk.

Carol Wallin will be teaching this wonderful "Red Poppy" from Laura Perrin in July. You can get the details on the website.

Between Llano and Fredericksburg on Highway 16 there is a beautiful road called the Willow City Loop. It meanders through private ranches and it just amazing. The vistas and fields of wildflowers are amazing. Because of the rain and cold winter we had the Bluebonnets are particularly stunning. The white Poppies make the fields look they are covered in snow.